The silence in Surbhi Kesarwani's office wasn't empty-it was powerful. The steady tick of the wall clock echoed faintly, barely audible over the soft rustle of paper as she flipped through a case file. Her black pen tapped once, sharply, against the edge of the sleek grey desk. Everything around her-charcoal-toned shelves, graphite curtains, obsidian leather chair-spoke of control, elegance, and a woman who didn't believe in distractions.

Surbhi's fingers paused mid-page. Her eyes, lined with precision like everything else about her, flicked up toward the frosted glass door.

"Karan" she called, her voice calm, clipped, and devoid of unnecessary warmth. "Come in."

The door opened almost immediately-her assistant had been waiting. Karan stepped in, careful not to disturb the air of quiet authority that cloaked the room.

"Yes, ma'am?"

Surbhi didn't look up right away. She finished underlining a sentence in the file with her black pen, then finally raised her eyes.

"Where's the updated contract draft for the Kapoor case? It was due on my desk thirty minutes ago."

"I-It's almost done, ma'am. I was just reviewing-"

"Almost," Surbhi repeated, her tone colder now. "I don't work with 'almost', Karan. If I say ten, it means ten. Not 10:05."

Karan nodded, swallowing her apology. She had learned long ago that Surbhi didn't care for excuses-only execution.

Surbhi leaned back slightly, eyes scanning the assistant's face with a cool intensity. "This isn't a college assignment you can beg an extension for. This is a law firm. My firm."

There was a brief silence. Then, unexpectedly, Surbhi's voice softened-just a fraction. "You're good, Karan. Don't start proving me wrong."

It wasn't affection. But it wasn't nothing.

Karan blinked, nodded quickly, and turned to leave.

"Five minutes," Surbhi said sharply behind her. "Not a second more."

Surbhi's fingers paused mid-page. Her eyes, sharp and unyielding, flicked toward the frosted glass door.

"Come in" she called, voice cool and composed.

The door opened within seconds. Karan entered, holding a neat stack of papers in his hands. His footsteps were light, respectful, as if stepping into a sacred space.

"Your files, ma'am," he said, placing them carefully on her desk.

She didn't look up. "Schedule," she demanded curtly, eyes still scanning the top page.

Karan adjusted the tablet in his hand. "You have a meeting with the Mehta clients at 11:30, contract review with Sharma & Co. at 1:00, and a video conference with-"

He paused.

Surbhi raised an eyebrow. "And?"

Karan cleared his throat. "Mr. Singhania called. He asked if you could come to Delhi... he said it's an urgent case and he wants you to handle it personally."

The pen in Surbhi's hand stopped moving. Her eyes lifted, slowly, and for the briefest moment, something flickered in them-nostalgia, affection, pain. All wrapped under the thick skin of control.

She leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable.

"Did he sound well?" she asked, her voice lower now, but still guarded.

Karan nodded. "Yes. And... he specifically said, 'Tell her I need her. Only her.'"

A silence settled in the room. Surbhi's gaze drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling window behind Karan, where the Mumbai skyline stood distant and indifferent.

Mr. Singhania wasn't her father. Not by blood. But he had filled that hollow space without asking for anything in return. Something her real father had never tried to do.

She exhaled quietly, pushing those thoughts away before they softened her too much.

"Book me a business class ticket. Mumbai to Delhi. Tonight."

Karan nodded, already typing. "Done, ma'am."

She turned back to the files, her voice like ice again. "Make sure the Mehta meeting doesn't clash with my departure. And reschedule Sharma & Co."

"Yes, ma'am."

As Karan exited, Surbhi stared at the word she had just underlined in the file: betrayal. Ironic. Fitting.

The moment Surbhi entered Mrs. Singhania's home, she felt an overwhelming sense of comfort. The familiar scent of freshly baked food lingered in the air, and the warmth of the house seemed to embrace her as she walked in. Mrs. Singhania was standing in the kitchen, busy arranging a few dishes on the counter. She turned around when she heard Surbhi's footsteps.

"Surbhi, you're here! I was just thinking about you," Mrs. Singhania exclaimed, her face lighting up with a smile that always made Surbhi feel like she was truly home.

"I couldn't resist, especially with your cooking in the air," Surbhi teased, walking over to hug her. "It's been way too long."

Mrs. Singhania chuckled and pulled back to look at her. "I know, I know. I've missed you. You're always so busy. You need to come by more often. And speaking of that, I've made your favorite."

Surbhi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's cooking?"

Mrs. Singhania's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Dal makhani. Just like you love it. And of course, I've made some fresh naan to go with it."

Surbhi smiled widely. "You know exactly how to make me feel at home. I'm starving just thinking about it."

"Oh, stop it. You're always welcome here. Now sit down, and let me feed you. You're way too thin for someone who works so hard," Mrs. Singhania said, playfully swatting Surbhi's arm.

Surbhi chuckled, sitting down at the table. "You're always taking care of me, aren't you?"

"That's because you deserve to be spoiled," Mrs. Singhania said with a grin as she served the food. "Now, let's eat. You've been running around doing so much. You need a break."

Surbhi picked up her spoon, savoring the first bite of dal makhani. "This is perfect. Honestly, I can't think of a better way to relax than with your cooking."

They spent the next few hours eating, laughing, and catching up. Mrs. Singhania's cooking was, as always, delicious, and Surbhi felt a kind of peace she could never find in the chaos of work. The love and care in the air was more than just the food-it was the feeling of being in a place where she was truly cared for.

The warmth of Mrs. Singhania's home made Surbhi feel at peace as she sat down at the dinner table, the delicious spread in front of her tempting her with its aroma. Mrs. Singhania had outdone herself once again, and Surbhi couldn't help but feel grateful for the love and care she always received here.

As they dug into the meal, Surbhi wiped a piece of naan into the dal makhani and took a bite. "This is perfect, as always," she said with a satisfied smile, glancing at Mr. Singhania, who was seated beside her.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it. You've been working nonstop lately," Mr. Singhania remarked, looking at her with concern.

Surbhi sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I know. But I can't help it. There's always something that needs my attention, and you know how it is."

Mrs. Singhania raised an eyebrow. "Are you leaving soon? It's a shame, I was hoping you'd stay longer."

Surbhi nodded, pushing her plate aside. "Yeah, I need to head back to Mumbai tonight. There's some work I need to get back to." She paused, her thoughts briefly drifting to the busy schedule awaiting her in Mumbai. "But it's always good to be here. This feels like a much-needed break."

Mr. Singhania looked at her with a mix of understanding and concern. "I see. Well, we'll miss you, but I understand. Work never stops for someone like you."

"Exactly," Surbhi said with a small smile, "It's the price I pay for being good at what I do."

Mrs. Singhania leaned forward, clearly interested in changing the topic. "What about Kanchan, Surbhi? Have you heard from her? How is her work going abroad? When is she coming back?"

Surbhi's expression softened at the mention of Kanchan. "She's been so focused on her career abroad, I haven't had a chance to catch up with her properly. But last I heard, she's doing well. You know how she is-always working hard."

"Always," Mrs. Singhania agreed with a wistful smile. "I wish I could see her more often. She's my daughter. I'm just so proud of everything she's achieved."

Surbhi nodded in agreement, smiling warmly. "She's done so much, and I know she'll keep doing amazing things. I'm sure she'll visit soon. She's always eager to come back home whenever she can."

"I hope so," Mrs. Singhania said softly, her eyes filled with affection. "It's been a while since I saw her.

Surbhi felt a surge of warmth for Mrs. Singhania. "She knows that. And I'm sure once things calm down for her, she'll come back and visit. You're her family, after all."

After a brief silence, Surbhi stood up, feeling the weight of the conversation settle in her chest. "I should probably get going soon, though. I need to catch a late flight."

"Well, we won't keep you too long," Mr. Singhania said, standing as well. "But promise us you'll visit again soon."

"I promise," Surbhi said with a smile, giving both of them a hug. "And thank you again for everything. I always feel at home here."

As she made her way to the door, Surbhi felt a sense of calm wash over her. Despite the busy life she led, these moments of warmth and connection were what kept her grounded.

_______________________________________

Author K:

Bas kar yaar, Surbhi aur Mrs. Singhania ka scene ne toh dil chhoo liya.

(Stop it yaar, the scene between Surbhi and Mrs. Singhania really touched my heart.)

Author S:

Aur Rajveer ka naam bhi nahi liya abhi tak—suspense max rakha hai!

(And we haven’t even mentioned Rajveer yet—maximum suspense!)

Author K:

Next chapter mein toh aag lagegi! Lekin tab tak... readers, ek aur story try karo?

(Next chapter will be fire! But till then… readers, wanna try another story?)

Author S:

Haan! Check out His love, her rules—ek aur emotional rollercoaster, lekin is baar mystery twist ke saath!

(Yes! Check out "His love her rules"—another emotional rollercoaster, but with a mystery twist!)

Author K:

Tab tak comment karo—Surbhi-Rajveer ki pehli mulaqat kaisi honi chahiye?

(Till then, drop a comment—how should Surbhi and Rajveer’s first meeting go?)